Prayer Request for event today! Protest against our Ministry Center

Dear Friends, we need your prayers! Today!

An anti-missionary organization (we have a few in Israel) has decided to try and intimidate us. They published an ad (see below) in the local ultra-orthodox Jewish newspaper calling for a mass protest against our Ramat Gan Ministry Center tonight at 7pm Israel time (noon EST).  Technically, they are calling to STOP THE PRAYERS. So we want to start the prayers!  We are NOT going to be intimidated! We are going to hold the event, but we are going to be smart about it.

SOME BACKGROUND.  We had  planned a lovely event, with two musicians and their bands that are starting to gain traction and publicity.  Both competed on TV shows for upcoming stars and one is a known believer.  The anti-missionaries are being somewhat dishonest in their ad claiming that we are holding a young adults conference, rather than a public - open for all ages - concert. We filed a police complaint and hope that this may have an affect, and encourage the police to show up during the event. We also complained at the city, since they are planning an gathering without a permit.  

We are used to their presence standing outside events like these at our ministry center. However, this is the first time that we are aware that they have made a concerted effort to call for a mass protest using written and social media.  Normally, their presence does not have an adverse affect on our activities, rather, it creates opportunities because curious pedestrians pass by and wonder why they are protesting and handing out fliers.  We are located in a very secular city, so these anti-missionaries are commuting from a nearby town and the locals are generally not receptive to their message. They don't understand why these ultra-orthodox religious Jewish people would be protesting our existence.  Here I want to make it clear, although these anti-missionaries view us as their enemies, we know that God loves them and wants them to turn towards him.  Many of these people have been fed terrible lies about Yeshua (Jesus) and they believe that Jesus was a dishonest and false teacher.  We can expose these lies with objective historical evidence if we get the chance, and sometimes we do. A simple example, it is common knowledge in the Ultra-orthodox community that the New Testament is an antisemitic book, which is of course not true.  For more on this read this article: https://www.chosenpeople.com/new-testament-anti-semitic/

This concert is not different than any of the many events we have scheduled in the past. We have held dozens of similar concerts.  Even the main musician has performed at our center twice in the past. The other musician is a known believer, so it would be expected for her to perform with us at some point.  So, we are they coming to protest now and intentionally trying to bring a big crowd?  The answer probably has to do with internal Israeli politics, but the simple version of it is that they think they can get away with it, now that the government has changed. 

What are our goals for events like these?  We use events like these to network with believers and their non-believing friends. It helps us meet the people that God is speaking to and answer their faith questions. Our main ministry happens after these events, when we meet with people in smaller groups to follow up. The big events open the doors.  We are known as a safe place to invite anyone to.  The musician who cancelled, said that we are amazing, and she is really disappointed, but she received advice that told her to cancel because it isn't good for her budding career to be associated with political or religious conflict. I understand her point of view, but I had hoped for a different decision. Please pray for her and that indeed her musical career won't be affected.

The BAD NEWS and the GOOD NEWS.  The bad news is that the musicians that were scheduled to perform were intimidated and have cancelled but the GOOD NEWS is that we have been able - at the very last minute, to find a musician that isn't intimidated and will perform tonight!  

SAFETY FIRST.  We have hired extra security and we will, Lord willing have police presence.  We expect them to be an annoyance, but we do not think that this group will become violent, because it would bring criminal charges on the organizers by the police.  Nevertheless, we would appreciate your prayers.

PRAYER REQUESTS.

1. That God would be glorified in spite of the opposition.

2. That our event would be safe 

3. That the protest outside would dissipate quickly and without incident

4. That the police would arrive quickly and stay for the entire event

5. That God would help us and all of our guests to not be intimidated

6. That God would provide a fun and blessed evening

7. That God would use this to create opportunities to share the Gospel and make disciples.

8. Please pray as you feel led!





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